Tag Archives: John McGuinness

Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness will return to Honda for 2022 Isle of Man

After an all-too-long halt due to unprecedented times, The Isle of Man TT is back – and we’re told that TT legend John McGuinness (second only to Dunlop himself when it comes to winning the dang thing) will be running with Honda for the 2022 season. 

McGuiness already has a neat 23 wins under his belt – though they’re not all with Honda. 

The report from AutoSport states that the legendary racer “was due to contest the previous two TTs with Bournemouth Kawasaki, having quit Norton following a woeful comeback in 2019 – in which he failed to finish both Superbike races through mechanical issues.”

A view of John McGuiness, TT racer for Honda these many years past

Source: Ultimate Motorcycling

The others – 16 wins – were for Honda, with 12 of those times on the absolutely bonkers CBR1000RR-R Fireblade

Regardless, we’re ready to celebrate the gent. Set for his 100th TT start this year at the age of 50, the report states that “McGuinness will ride the all-new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland and at the TT in 2022 in the Superbike and Superstock classes.”

“What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family,” McGuinness says in the report from AutoSport.

“I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil [Fletcher, Honda UK’s head of motorcycles] and Harv [Beltran, team manager] and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be.”

A view of John McGuiness, TT racer for Honda these many years past

Source: AutoSport

“I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going.”

“I had a little go on the Fireblade earlier this year and was impressed with it on-track, so looking forward to getting on the roads and seeing how it goes.”

“It’s going to be a special year with everything going on and also just getting back to the North West 200 and the TT and everyone racing there again – I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

Standby for the start of the event on the 29th of May, scheduled to run until the 10th of June; in the meantime, be sure to check out other recent news from our archives, and as always – stay safe on the twisties.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

John McGuinness back on Fireblade for 2022 IOM TT and NW200

10 – 14 May – North West 200
28 May – 11 June – Isle of Man TT Races

Honda has today confirmed that ‘TT Legend’ John McGuinness will return to Honda machinery in 2022 lining up alongside Glenn Irwin on the roads, as the team looks forward to debuting the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at both the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT races.

John McGuinness

John, who needs no introduction to road racing fans, has a vast and hugely successful history with Honda, having won 12 of the 20 TT wins the CBR1000RR Fireblade has amassed, where Honda still holds the accolade of the most successful manufacturer in the history of the Isle of Man TT Races, with 189 wins, 65 clear of their nearest rival.

John returns to Honda with the brand celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade. Updates to the 2022 Fireblade centre on mid-corner acceleration and drive, plus an iconic colour scheme in homage to the original ’92 Fireblade, which John will line up on at the TT as the ‘Morecambe Missile’ celebrates his 100th TT race start.

John McGuinness

What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family! I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil and Harv and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going. I had a little go on the Fireblade earlier this year and was impressed with it on-track, so looking forward to getting on the roads and seeing how it goes. It’s going to be a special year with everything going on and also just getting back to the North West 200 and the TT and everyone racing there again – I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

John McGuinness

Joining John on the roads is four-time North West 200 Superbike race-winner and TT newcomer Glenn Irwin. Originally due to have made his Isle of Man debut in 2020, Glenn has had to wait two years with the event being cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic, where with no international road racing, Glenn has been developing the Fireblade SP in the British Superbike championship with multiple wins and podiums.

John McGuinness and Glenn Irwin
Glenn Irwin

Finally, I’ll be making my long-awaited TT debut with Honda! We’re now more familiar with the new Fireblade and the team is more familiar; I like to have home comforts as such and continuing with the bike and the same team I think puts us in a better position with frame of mind. We still have no targets set and no expectations for the Isle of Man TT, we’re going there to learn and enjoy. It’s incredible to have someone like John as my teammate on the roads, he’s someone I have looked up to and is probably the second greatest TT rider after another Honda-man Joey! To have that opportunity to be able to learn off him, and able to be part of the team, see everything first-hand and to learn off him experiencing the ‘McGuinness-factor’ is something I am really excited about! On the flip side, we go to the North West 200 where we can work together and I think we can realistically set targets there – I would love to achieve Honda’s first international road race win on the new Fireblade at the NW200 and add to my Superbike wins there. We’re fully aware we’ve not been there in a few years, but like everyone else, we’ll go, and we’ll do our homework. For sure the Honda team are the best to go road racing with, and BSB, and hopefully we can find out feet during practice and if we’re feeling confident look towards adding to the NW200 wins.”

Glenn Irwin won in BSB this season on the Fireblade SP

The Honda Racing UK team will be taking part in both the Superstock and Superbike classes at the NW200 and IOMTT Races, as well as the blue-riband Senior TT, which John last won in 2015 aboard the Fireblade.

Havier Beltran – Team Manager, Honda Racing UK

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to work with John on a deal for 2022, it’s going to be an exciting season for us all with the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade and John’s 100th TT start, and for him to do this back with Honda just made complete sense. Honda has so much history with John at the TT and 12 of the 20 wins for the CBR1000RR Fireblade have been with him, so for us all this is very much a homecoming. We also have Glenn, who will finally make his debut at the TT, which has been a long time coming, but we’re all really excited for this and to see how he gets on. There’s absolutely no pressure on Glenn, it’s about learning and finding his way at the TT, and with John’s experience, I don’t think he could ask for a better teammate to learn from. From a Honda point of view, this will be Honda UK’s first time back at both the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT races since 2010, so we’re all excited to get back on the roads with the new Fireblade.”

John McGuinness
Neil Fletcher – Head of Motorcycles, Honda UK

“We’re absolutely delighted to be returning to the international road racing programme following the challenges of the last few years, particularly as 2021 would have been the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first TT win with Mike Hailwood in 1961. Quite simply, the Isle of Man TT has been an integral part of Honda’s DNA and to continue this story with a returning ‘TT Legend’ like John who can also help and support Glenn in his first year is a really exciting period for us. With all the success that John has had with Honda, it only feels right that his 100th start on the Isle of Man is on the latest Fireblade. We are also really looking forward to heading to the North West 200 and are confident the combination of Glenn and John aboard the latest Fireblade will be at the sharp end having both won the race on multiple occasions. I’m thrilled that our 2022 racing plans, including the recently announced BSB rider line up, is now complete and I just can’t wait for both the roads and short circuit seasons to get going!”

John McGuinness

Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade TT wins history

Senior TT

  • 2006 John McGuinness
  • 2007 John McGuinness
  • 2008 John McGuinness
  • 2009 Steve Plater
  • 2010 Ian Hutchinson
  • 2011 John McGuinness
  • 2013 John McGuinness
  • 2015 John McGuinness

Superbike TT

  • 2006 John McGuinness
  • 2007 John McGuinness
  • 2009 John McGuinness
  • 2010 Ian Hutchinson
  • 2011 John McGuinness
  • 2012 John McGuinness
  • 2013 Michael Dunlop
  • 2015 Bruce Anstey

Superstock TT

  • 2009 Ian Hutchinson
  • 2010 Ian Hutchinson
  • 2012 John McGuinness
  • 2013 Michael Dunlop

Source: MCNews.com.au

John McGuinness on Kawasaki for 2020 IOM TT & NW200

John McGuinness joins Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki

Road racing legend John McGuinness will contest the 2020 Isle of Man TT and International North West 200 road races for Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki with the Morecambe rider having signed a deal overnight to ride for Pete Extance’s British Superbike Championship-winning team.

McGuinness, who celebrates his 30th year of racing in 2020, will ride Ninja ZX-10RR machinery in the Superbike and Superstock classes at both events and will head into both clearly amongst the favourites for race honours.


John McGuinness

“I’m delighted to announce my plans for the 2020 International road racing season and equally delighted to be riding for Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki. Their record on the roads with James Hillier, in terms of both results and reliability, along with their reputation within the bike industry, speak for themselves and with it being such a family-orientated team, it’s the perfect fit for me. It’s a highly reputable, professional team who have achieved great things on both the roads and the circuits and, for me, they tick all the boxes.”

“Pete drove all the way up from Bournemouth to Morecambe to meet me and put the offer on the table and it didn’t take much for me to sign – it was an easy decision. Everything made perfect sense and we’ve put together a good plan that will put us in the best position possible for the TT and North West 200. After my performances at Macau, I really got my mojo back and, with my leg now 100%, I feel like I’m as riding as well as ever. Joining Kawasaki and Pete’s team and riding the Ninja ZX-10RR is a new chapter for me, one I’m excited about and really looking forward to.”


The addition of multiple road racer winner McGuinness completes the team’s plans for the season ahead and it makes for a formidable line-up with Alastair Seeley joining him at the North West 200 having signed for the team in November. Previous incumbent James Hiller will ride an OMG BMW at the TT.

Remarkably, it will be the first time McGuinness has ridden a Kawasaki at either event but the now 47-year old has previous experience on the roads for the manufacturer having taken a close second place on a Hawk Racing Kawasaki in the 2004 Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race, finishing just 0.083s behind Kiwi Bruce Anstey.

Riding for Stuart Hicken’s team during the second half of 2004, McGuinness also competed at the International Gold Cup meeting at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough whilst he also recorded his solitary British Superbike Championship podium that year, finishing third behind John Reynolds and Sean Emmett at Brands Hatch.

The International road races are what he’s become synonymous with in recent times and he can now boast a superb total of 23 wins at the Isle of the Man TT, a figure only bettered by the late, great Joey Dunlop, whilst his tally of 47 podiums is the highest figure of all time.

He was also the outright lap record holder around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course from 2004-2013, regaining the accolade in 2015 when he lapped at a personal best speed of 132.701mph.

His record at the North West 200 is also to be admired with six wins and 21 podiums and both he and Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki head into 2020 with the sole focus of getting back onto the podium at the TT and NW200.

Pete Extance – Team Owner

“It’s absolutely incredible news that we can welcome road racing legend John McGuinness onto our Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki machinery. To me, John is Mr TT with his road racing feats elsewhere, at the likes of the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix, simply superb and what an honour it is to have our Bournemouth Kawasaki dealership associated with him.”

“We both know there’s a big job ahead of us to be ready for the new season but it’s one that we know will be great fun. Hopefully, we can put John McGuinness back on the podium at the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 in 2020, the place where we know he belongs. Together with Alastair, we have a simply stunning line up of riders for the International road races and we can’t wait for it all to start.”

Pete Extance John McGuinness

Pete Extance John McGuinness

Pete Extance with John McGuinness
Source: MCNews.com.au

Wide ranging interview with TT legend John McGuinness

There is no doubt John McGuinness is a walking, living and quite funny legend of motorcycle racing. The fact that he is able to go racing, let alone walk again, is a testimony to his determination and passion for road racing, as in May 2017 that passion nearly brought it all to an end.

In Superbike practice for the North-West 200 in Northern Ireland, he had a massive crash through no fault of his own. The ECU of the new Honda Racing Fireblade he was riding looped out when an electronic glitch in the gearbox “auto-blipper”, caused the bike to accelerate unexpectedly. This was due to some early software problems on the race bikes.

John McGuinness

His injuries were broken vertebrae, ribs and smashed tibia and fibula in his right leg. It was mashed, the fractures so severe the docs had to remove 50 mm of bone forcing his leg to be encased in scaffold with a fixator. During the rehabilitation he had to screw out the rods with a spanner a millimetre at a time to create a gap so new bone could grow. (Shiver!)

He was aiming to race at last year’s IOM TT but complications arose after the fixator was removed in March last year, putting his racing return back a couple of months.

The evidence of the injury was painfully evident at the recent InterFOS event in Sydney, his lower leg still severely swollen. He has had a special over-size boot and leathers made to compensate. You shake your head in admiration and amazement at what these riders put themselves through for that unbridled and unique rush of what only motorcycle racing can bring.

Classic TT Senior John McGuinness Jamie Coward Lee Johnston
Senior Classic TT Race Results 2018
John McGuinness – Paton 01:22:52.747
Jamie Coward – Norton 01:24:05.819
Lee Johnston – Honda 01:24:31.403

Following the 18 IOM TTs he has contested, including 23 TT wins, he stands in the books as the fifth fastest of all time to lap the circuit (132.701mph, 2015 Senior) and has covered around 49,500 miles (79,200 kms) or over 1300 laps of that iconic piece of real estate in the Irish Sea.

That’s not to mention his success and the miles of black ribbon he has covered in Northern Ireland, Macau and venues far and wide, all the way to GP.

One would think he would have had enough. Not at all. The passion still burns deep.

McGuinness has been to Australia a couple of times for the Phillip Island International Classic, with Team Winfield Classic Racing, but it was his first time to Sydney and the ‘Creek.

McGuinness, along with Michael Rutter, flew out from Sydney at 8am Monday morning after the event to head straight to the IOM press launch in Douglas for this year’s TT, where the soon-to-be 47-year-old will make his delayed debut for the Norton factory.

Before he bolted, Bracksy cornered him for a few questions.


John McGuinness Interview

Mark Bracks: So, first time to Sydney Motorsport Park, what did you reckon?

John McGuinness: “It’s sorta ticking a box thing for me, I’ve never been before so it’s exciting. It’s totally different to what you see on YouTube. I did a bit of stuff, trying to learn the track, but I didn’t realise it was as up and down as it is. I’ve been to tracks around the world, it’s just like another track innit. There’s some interesting bits. Turn one is mega, having a scratch in a few places, stop-start and then flows in some places. It’s good, it’s a bit bumpy, a bit old school, been around a long time this track.”

INTERFOS RbMotoLens John McGuinness
John McGuinness at Interfos 2019

Bracks: What about the event itself?

John McGuinness: “I’ve loved every minute of it, the people are friendly, the organisers are friendly, all the competitors have been friendly. Roger and his team, we all get on well. We’ve been doing a bit together for a few years, I’ve been out of action for a bit, so, we got ourselves a bit nervous when we got here. Probably took me a bit to get going really, but I was always a little bit behind them guys really.”


Bracks: Is this your first serious ride since that incident?

John McGuinness: “I did the Classic TT and Macau TT. Macau is a bit, sort of my territory. This again is a new track, big heavy superbike, and I struggled a little bit. Being a second-and-a-half or two-seconds behind these guys I’m kicking myself, probably being a bit hard on myself. It’s gonna take a bit to get back to the sharp end, we’ve been safe, going OK.”

Macau GP John McGuinness
John McGuinness at the Macau TT in 2018

Bracks: That’s the other thing, you gotta keep in the back of your mind, anything could have happened out there…

John McGuinness: “When it’s dry and its hot and you’re hitting all the right spots on the track, and you have the rhythm, I did that wet race yesterday, it was OK, got in a nice rhythm, wasn’t a million miles worse than the other guys, but it was getting wetter and wetter, and there was more puddles and more puddles… You know having spent two years recovering to get back to where I am, if I did something – no disrespect to the event – I sorta got bigger fish to fry.”


Bracks: And it’s not as if it’s an event with sheep stations out there. You’re coming here for a bit of fun.

John McGuinness: “It’s a premier classic event in Australia ya know, the crowds been disappointing, maybe they don’t want to come see John McGuinness anymore.

INTERFOS RbMotoLens Pitlane Sunday Morning
International Festival of Speed 2019

Bracks: I don’t think that’s the case…

John McGuinness: “I feel a bit disappointed about the whole thing. In my head it was going to be sunny, in my head I was going to get some laps, and unfortunately we picked the wrong weekend. I’ve been watching the weather excited, and we just got a freak weekend. That knackered the job really. I got some quality riding Thursday, some riding Friday, some riding Saturday, Sunday’s a wash-out.

“It’s been a long way to come, and I don’t have to come, I come because I want to come, because I enjoy riding bikes and working with these guys. I’ve had some lovely comments from spectators, a few families kicking around, watching my racing at the TT, never been there, but would love to go there, and pleased to have a chat and a meet up.

“That for me is also part of the journey, you know, it’s not all about me and the racing, it’s the people and the fans. Without them we’re nothing. It’s ticked the box, I’ve had a look around Sydney, you know, it’s like Newcastle at home. It’s a town with a bridge in it, it’s just a bit warmer, that was about it. So yea I’ve had a bit of a nosey about.

INTERFOS RbMotoLens Michael Rutter Glen Richards John McGuinness
International Festival of Speed 2019 – John McGuinness chasing Michael Rutter and Glen Richards – Image Rob Mott

Bracks: So you getting around the bike alright?

John McGuinness: “I can move around, but I just want to hit the brakes really hard. I just haven’t quite got that upper body strength yet. I need to do a bit more riding, I’ve been doing a bit of moto-crossing, plenty of enduro, a bit of mini-biking, but not much road riding. I rode in November, but this weekend has given me a bit of a kick up the ass, a rude awakening.

“I’m just not quite in shape here. All the top TT riders have been, Hickman’s doing a bit, Harrison is doing a bit, Hillier is doing a bit, ya know, they are all just getting that one step ahead of me. So when I get back, I need a bit of a program to go and do some riding. Otherwise I’m going to get humped – my pants pulled down.”

Norton UKbikeSHow John McGuinness
John McGuinness

Bracks: You’ve got these new challenges, getting fit and being able to ride the bike…

John McGuinness: “It’s a new chapter with Norton, a big thing for Norton, a big thing for me. Had a lot of success at IoM TT and the North West, long may it continue, but realistically I’m not sure really. The Norton; Josh Brookes got it around 131.8, so it’s definitely got pedigree, I know my way around, got the experience, if I can line all the planets up and go reasonably fast we won’t be a million miles away. Coming from laying on the ground with lots and lots and lots of broken bones to being able to do it has been a big journey and a big exercise. Nothing left to prove now.”

John McGuinness on Norton for 2018 TT
John McGuinness with the Norton

Bracks: You’ve done everything, 23 TT wins, you very nearly paid the ultimate price, for something that wasn’t even in your control.

John McGuinness: “I didn’t want it to finish that way. The easiest way would be to say that’s it, and roll over. I want to retire on my terms, not on someone else’s terms.”


Bracks: Has this given you a rekindling, an enthusiasm?

John McGuinness: “It has given me a focus to get fitter, stronger, and back to the position of where I was. Not just for racing, for me, myself and the rest of my race. There’s other things outside racing, I got kids springing up, if I didn’t have a focus and a direction, my leg wouldn’t have got better. It would have been easy to eat burgers and chips and beer, some asshole will say I’m bitter and twisted about it, but I just have to pick myself up. I’m looking in front not behind now.


Bracks: So that’s all settled.

John McGuinness: “Just getting back to where we were. I’ve got a new place at home, life’s good really outside of racing as well.”

Classic TT Senior John McGuinness Paton
Senior Classic TT 2018 – John McGuinness – Paton

Bracks: So when you retire, will you have to work, or has racing been good to you?

John McGuinness: “I can probably tread water and put groceries in the fridge. I don’t know, I mean, what I’ve got now racing, is way way more than I ever expected when I was started at school, not doing any listening. Laying bricks when I was an apprentice, I’ve come a long way. But I mean I’ll always stay involved, someone will invite me here, or there, won’t they. Get a quid here and a quid there. Old Parrish can’t do it forever can he, I’ll kick him out of the job one day.”

Bracks: Come and join the comedy team mate! Thanks John.

Norton UKbikeSHow John McGuinness
John McGuinness will ride the Norton at TT 2019

NB: John McGuinness was to debut on the Norton at the North West 200 in mid-May. But overnight NW200 organisers have rejected their entry. The reason being that Norton wanted John on a 1200cc version of the Norton at the NW200. While special dispensation can be made by NW200 organisers in certain cases, they were not willing to stretch the boundaries to allow a 1200cc entry. It is yet to be ascertained if Norton will modify their entry and have John on a litre capacity motorcycle for the NW200, as the man stated himself above, he does need track time.


Fastest 25 riders of the IOM TT course

1. Peter Hickman (BMW) 2018 Senior 16m42.778s 135.452mph
2. Dean Harrison (Kawasaki) 2018 Senior 16m46.742s 134.918mph
3. Michael Dunlop (BMW) 2016 Senior 16m53.929s 133.962mph
4. Ian Hutchinson (BMW) 2016 Senior 17m00.384s 133.115mph
5. John McGuinness (Honda) 2015 Senior 17m03.567s 132.701mph
6. Conor Cummins (Honda) 2018 SBK 17m04.431s 132.589mph
7. James Hillier (Kawasaki) 2015 Senior 17m05.779s 132.414mph
8. Guy Martin (BMW) 2015 Senior 17m05.907s 132.398mph
9. Bruce Anstey (Honda) 2014 SBK 17m06.682s 132.298mph
10. Josh Brookes (Norton) 2018 Senior 17m10.994s 131.745mph
11. David Johnson (BMW) 2015 Senior 17m12.165s 131.595mph
12. Michael Rutter (BMW) 2016 STK 17m15.924s 131.118mph
13. Gary Johnson (Kawasaki) 2016 Senior 17m17.291s 130.945mph
14. William Dunlop (BMW) 2014 Senior 17m18.016s 130.853mph
15. Lee Johnston (BMW) 2015 STK 17m18.037s 130.851mph
16. Martin Jessopp (BMW) 2018 SBK 17m18.910s 130.741mph
17. Cameron Donald (Honda) 2013 SBK 17m19.007s 130.729mph
18. Steve Plater (Honda) 2009 Senior 17m20.91s 130.490mph
19. Dan Kneen (BMW) 2017 STK 17m22.051s 130.347mph
20. Keith Amor (Honda) 2011 Senior 17m23.41s 130.177mph
21. Phil Crowe (BMW) 2018 SBK 17m25.176s 129.957mph
22. Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 2010 STK 17m25.77s 129.883mph
23. Sam West (BMW) 2018 Senior 17m27.118s 129.716mph
24. Steve Mercer (Honda) 2016 SBK 17m30.299s 129.323mph
25. Ivan Lintin (Kawasaki) 2018 STK 17m31.442s 129.183mph

Source: MCNews.com.au

Norton adds Superlight 650 racer

Just a week after Norton launched the 650cc Atlas Nomad cafe racer and Ranger scrambler, they have added the Superlight road-legal racer.

While the Nomad will sell for £9995 (about $A17,700, $US12,750) and the Ranger for £11,995 ($A21,250, $US15,300), the Norton Superlight will sell for about £19,950 ($A35,350, $US25,500).

That’s a lot for a 650cc bike, but we expect its main purpose is to compete in the Lightweight TT class in next year’s Isle of Man TT.

It will be raced by 23-time IoM TT winner John McGuinness who moved from Honda t Norton this year but didn’t race because of injury.

Why does it cost so much?

Superlight by name …Norton Superlight

Well, for a start, it is covered in carbon fibre from the wheels to the body work and single-sided swingarm.

Together with a polished aluminium tube frame instead of steel in the Atlas models, so it weighs just a dashing 158kg.

That’s 20kg less than the Atlas and if you add the optional titanium exhaust system it drops another 6kg.

Suspension is top-shelf Ohlins with NIX 30 forks and TTX GP monoshock.

Norton TTX-GP 7
Ohlins TTX-GP shock

Brakes are big Brembo 330mm discs on the front with M50 calipers.

It also features an up-down quickshifter, IMU traction and ABS controllers, colour LCD dash and race-worthy electronics such as wheelie and launch control.

Power-to-weight ratio

The 650cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine in the Atlas models is basically half of the 120cc V4 Norton are working on for their engine V4 flagship model which is expected to be released next year.

In the Atlas Nomad and Ranger, it produces a modest 62kW of power at 11,000 revs and 64Nm of torquer.

In the Superlight it makes 78kW which gives it a racy power-to-weight ratio.

We are still awaiting news from Norton on the V4 and it remain s a mystery what the British company has planned for India.

The company last year signed a deal with India’s Kinetic Group to build 650cc motorcycles for Asian markets.

When we mentioned this before, the company was at pains to say all their bikes are handmade in England.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

John McGuinness scores top ten in racing return at Macau

2018 Macau Grand Prix

After eighteen months away from riding a Superbike, the legacy of multiple injuries sustained at the North West 200 in May 2017, McGuinness was part of the Tak Chun Group by PBM Ducati team and was well aware of the task in front of him but he diligently went about his business as soon as he took to the 3.8-mile Guia circuit on Thursday.

Using the hour-long free practice session to re-familiarise himself with the daunting, Armco-lined course, as well as get more dialled into the 1199 Ducati Panigale, John placed 11th before shaving almost seven seconds off his time later in the afternoon in first qualifying to move up to ninth.

The second and final qualifying session on Friday morning saw him improve by a further two seconds, improving his lap times with each and every lap and the 2001 race winner duly lined up in eighth place on the grid for Saturday morning’s scheduled 12-lap race.

A solid start saw him complete the first lap in tenth place and here he remained for the first half of the race. Heading into lap nine, John had the BMW duo of Derek Sheils and Davey Todd just ahead of him but any hopes of climbing higher up the leaderboard ended soon after when Phil Crowe and Ben Wylie crashed, fortunately without serious injury.

The incident subsequently brought out the red flags and the race result declared at the end of eight laps which placed John in tenth place, a solid result in his Superbike comeback and a valuable outing ahead of 2019. 

John McGuinness

“I was a little bit rusty and nervous coming into the meeting having not been on a proper Superbike for two years but I was happy enough with my grid position for the race. Everything slowly came back to me and it started flowing and I got into a bit of a rhythm towards the end and went a bit faster so I was looking to give a good account of myself in the race and enjoy myself. From not being on the Macau start line since 2016 , I rode really tight for a lap or two and was a bit rubbish for a bit but I settled down into a decent pace and rhythm. I had a top ten finish on my radar before getting here and whilst I could be a bit disappointed with tenth, the lads who finished in front of me have been riding all year and are sharp, riding week in week out. The Ducati was fantastic, the team were ace and there was no pressure from anyone so it’s nice to go into winter with a race under my belt and I can look ahead now to 2019.”

Macau GP John McGuinness
John McGuinness

Peter Hickman scored the overall race victory ahead of BMW team-mate Michael Rutter. 

Macau GP Results 2018

  1. Peter Hickman GBR Aspire-Ho by Bathams Racing
  2. Michael Rutter GBR Aspire-Ho by Bathams Racing
  3. Martin Jessopp GBR Be Wiser Tak Chun Group Ducati by PBM
  4. Danny Webb GBR MGM by Penz134
  5. Gary Johnson GBR Briggs Equipment Kawasaki
  6. Horst Saiger AUT Saiger Racing
  7. David Johnson AUS PR Racing
  8. Derek Sheils IRL MGM by Penz13
  9. Davey Todd GBR Puraglobe Syntainics Racing
  10. John McGuinness GBR Be Wiser Tak Chun Group Ducati by PBM

Images Stephen Davison

Source: MCNews.com.au